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PayPal in China: what to use instead

PayPal is common internationally, but in China many offline payments are dominated by QR wallets designed for local flows.

What People Use in China

Traveler Tips

  • Treat Alipay/WeChat Pay as your everyday wallet in China.
  • If you need cross-border payments, separate that from your in-China offline wallet setup.
  • Keep multiple payment options ready for edge cases.

Things to Watch Out For

  • Offline merchant coverage is not comparable to QR wallets in many cities.
  • Travelers may still need verification in local apps for full functionality.

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